Principal's Hearing Continues Witnesses: 'Teaching The Test' Is Common

November 15, 1990|By Pat Lamee Of The Sentinel Staff

DELAND — If Turie T. Small Elementary School principal Lawrence Broxton gave test answers to students cramming for a nationwide exam he wasn't the only one, witnesses testified at a dismissal hearing Wednesday.

Lists of misspelled and misused words from previous tests were commonly circulated and used by some teachers to coach students, teacher Margaret Kalch told the five-member School Board.

Broxton, 60, former principal at the Daytona Beach school, has been accused of using the exact test words to coach 29 sixth-graders on April 16, just two days before the exam.

Such practices would be improper unless the words were mingled with non-test words in daily school work over a period of months, several district school officials testified.

Kalch said that three weeks before a national assessment test was given in April 1989 and 1990, word lists were distributed to teachers at Westside Elementary School in Daytona Beach ''with instructions to teach the words to the students.''

She said she told principal Minnie Harris that it was ''cheating'' to use the exact word lists to drill students.

However, Harris testified that Kalch did not complain. Instead, she said, another teacher complained and Harris explained the words could be used only if mixed with other daily lessons.

Broxton testified he didn't know the list of words would be used on the current test. He only knew they had been ''problem areas'' on the previous year's exam, he said.

He told School Board members he never would have drilled the students with those words if he had known they were going to be on the test given two days later.

Testifying for two hours, Superintendent James Surratt acknowledged that the district had no printed brochure or directive on preparing for Comprehensive Assessment Program tests.

But he said professional educators know better than to give exact answers, which is known as ''teaching the test.''

He also acknowledged that a Seabreeze High School teacher was reprimanded five years ago for reading CAP test questions and giving answers to students.

The teacher lacked professional judgment and was advised that he would get a one-week suspension without pay and be transferred to another school, Surratt said.

''Why, then, was this man fired?'' asked attorney Chobee Ebbets, pointing to his client, Broxton. ''He didn't have the test, he only had the analysis data from the previous year.''

Surratt said Broxton didn't respond to the letter of dismissal and ignored school officials who banged on his front door in attempts to deliver the letter.

''The more powerful reason is that there is a different standard for teachers and principals,'' Surratt said.

He also charged Broxton with improper behavior. Surratt said Broxton allowed a teacher and a non-employee to be present during a meeting Broxton held with people who would be questioned about possible testing irregularities.

But several witnesses testified that Broxton did not call a meeting.

Witnesses said Broxton's assistant, Carole McCue, former testing director Miriam Davis, teacher Ann Arnold and New Smyrna Beach resident Clarence McMillon did meet in Broxton's office. But they said McMillon and Davis, not Broxton, set up the informal conversation about alleged irregularities in the testing preparations.

The School Board, which has heard nearly 15 hours of testimony this week, delayed the hearing until Dec. 27 because of the illness of McCue, who was testing coordinator at Small Elementary.

After her testimony and the final arguments, the board will decide whether to uphold Surratt's recommendation to fire Broxton.

McCue, 38, a district employee since 1978, and Broxton, 60, a 31-year employee, were transferred from Small Elementary during the investigation in May. McCue, who has not been disciplined, worked in an administrative office.

Broxton, whose annual salary is $47,682, has been on sick leave since the transfer.